Mina giggled, the earlier tension evaporating. “No, no, I can walk myself!”
That morning, Mina persuaded Leo to join her at the hotel gym.
As they walked into the gym, Mina nudged Leo, grinning. “Bet you can’t keep up with me,” she teased, though her eyes were already darting toward the weights.
Leo chuckled, raising an eyebrow. “Oh really? You think you can handle what I do?”
“Maybe,” she replied, challenging him with a smirk. “Or maybe I just enjoy watching you try.”
Leo rolled his eyes, heading over to the bench press. “Alright, Miss Competitive. Watch and learn.”
Mina pretended to stretch, though her gaze kept slipping back to him. She couldn’t help it—watching Leo effortlessly lift weights was… distracting.
“See something interesting over there?” Leo’s voice interrupted her thoughts, and she looked up to find him grinning at her, clearly amused.
Mina cleared her throat, feigning innocence. “Oh, nothing. Just checking if you’re doing it right.”
He smirked, picking up on her flustered expression. “Sure. Just ‘checking.’ You look a bit distracted, though.”
She scoffed, rolling her eyes. “Please. I’m just making sure you don’t hurt yourself.”
“Right.” Leo laughed, grabbing a towel to wipe off the sweat glistening on his arms. “You know, if you keep staring, I might start charging you for the show.”
Mina smirked, trying to play it cool. “Oh, please. I can find this at any gym.”
“Oh yeah?” Leo walked over, standing close enough that she could feel the warmth radiating from him. “Then why don’t you look away?”
Caught off guard, Mina quickly glanced to the side, trying to cover her embarrassment. “Fine. I’ll go… do my workout somewhere else.”
Leo chuckled, watching her move to the other side of the gym. “Enjoy your workout, Miss ‘Just Checking.’”
Mina was lost in her workout, her gaze drifting to Leo as he lifted heavy weights, his muscles flexing under the glistening sweat. Without realizing it, she found herself staring, captivated. Suddenly, Leo’s fingers snapped right in front of her face, jolting her from her daze.
“If you keep staring at me like that, Mina, you’ll end up falling for me,” Leo said, his grin smug yet playful.
Mina’s cheeks flared as she looked away, whispering, “Already have…”
“What was that?” Leo leaned in, feigning curiosity.
“Nothing!” Mina quickly replied, flustered.
“Oh, I don’t think it was ‘nothing,’” Leo countered, stepping closer until they were mere inches apart. His expression softened as he cupped her face gently, his thumb brushing her cheek. “Careful, Mina. A guy might get ideas with you looking at him that way.”
Mina’s breath hitched, her heartbeat pounding in her ears. She whispered nervously, “L-Leo… what are you doing?”
He smirked, his eyes flickering with amusement. “Just testing a theory,” he murmured, leaning closer.
Mina’s pulse raced as his face was now just a breath away. She instinctively closed her eyes, anticipating the feel of his lips. But then…
“Did you really close your eyes, waiting for a kiss?” Leo’s voice was a low chuckle, sending a thrill through her as she opened her eyes, her cheeks burning.
“I… I was just… uh…” she stammered, feeling utterly caught.
Leo leaned back with a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Relax, Miss ‘Pure Young Lady.’ There’s plenty of time for that… if you’re still interested.”
Mina huffed, stomping her foot before storming out of the hotel gym. Leo watched her go, a little surprised, then quickly followed her, calling out, “Hey, wait! I’m sorry, Mina. Let me make it up to you.”
She kept walking, her arms crossed, refusing to look his way. “You think an apology will fix everything?”
Leo scratched the back of his neck, thinking quickly. “What if I treat you to a fine brunch at the hotel restaurant? It’s Michelin-starred, you know…”
Mina paused, glancing at him over her shoulder, her interest clearly piqued. “You’re treating?”
Leo nodded eagerly. “Absolutely. Whatever you want.”
Mina’s eyes lit up, and she tried to keep her expression serious, though a smile tugged at the corner of her lips. “Fine. But only because it’s Michelin-starred.”
Leo chuckled, offering his arm. “Deal. Now, let’s get you that brunch.” 
Mina rolled her eyes but took his arm, her irritation quickly fading as thoughts of the delicious meal ahead filled her mind.
Mina couldn’t believe her eyes when a team of stylists and a beautiful brunch gown arrived at her room, courtesy of Leo. As they worked on her, the makeup artists and stylists explained each step, highlighting her features and sharing French-style beauty tips for that effortless, “carefree yet elegant” look.
“You have the cheekbones of a classic beauty,” one of the stylists noted, gently brushing on a subtle blush. “A touch of highlighter here will make them pop.”
Another added, “French style is all about enhancing what’s naturally yours. Less is more, but it’s about knowing exactly where to emphasize.”
As the team continued their work, Mina looked around, still trying to process the unexpected luxury treatment.
"Is this really necessary?" she asked, her voice filled with a mix of wonder and doubt. “I mean, it's just brunch, right?”
One of the stylists, a chic French woman with an elegant scarf tied around her neck, chuckled softly. “Ah, mademoiselle, in Paris, every moment is an occasion. Besides,” she added with a wink, “the gentleman who requested this was quite specific—‘Make her look like royalty.’”
Mina’s cheeks flushed, and she laughed nervously. “Of course he was,” she muttered, more to herself than anyone else.
The makeup artist leaned in, adding a final touch of highlighter to her cheekbones. “You know, French women love a bit of mystery in their beauty. It’s not about looking perfect, but about drawing attention to your best features… like your eyes.” He held her gaze through the mirror, nodding with approval. “Just enough to keep people wondering.”
Mina smiled, slowly starting to feel the confidence they were imbuing in her. “I guess that’s kind of nice. But will it really be that impressive?”
Another stylist smiled as she adjusted Mina's hair, letting a few loose strands frame her face. “Oh, cherie, trust me. When that gentleman of yours sees you, he’ll be speechless.”